Page 53 of Forfeits

“Yes, I do,” Lucy confirmed.

I look back and forth between them.

“I told the class,” Aiden said, and I felt even more affection for him.

“Yeah, and it was epic,” Lucy said, “because some of the dudebros in my class are so homophobic. But then the coolest teacher in the school says he’s gay, and they don’t even know how to deal with it.”

Aiden’s cheeks went darker. “I’m sure your dad doesn’t want to date a guy like me.”

“Sure he does. Dad, you’d date Mr. Thompson, right?”

I gave them a nervous smile, determined to get myself out of this mess. Then I realized that I didn’t even want to.

“Why not?” I said. “Mr. Thompson is very attractive.”

Lucy giggled.

What the fuck am I doing?

Aiden’s smile slowly disappeared as he stared at me with his eyebrows raised and a question in his gaze. I couldn’t blame him.

Lucy grinned. “Come on, Aiden! My dad’s a great guy.”

Aiden blinked. “I’m…I’m sure he is.”

Lucy looked back and forth between us. “I think it’d be good for my dad to go on a date. He’s been really lonely since my papa died.”

Lucy looked at me and I looked at her, as heavy emotions rose inside me that I really didn’t want to display in the middle of the Nature museum.

“Well, I…”

Aiden dug his phone out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Here. Send yourself a text. Then I’ll have your number.”

I blinked at him and took his phone. I tapped in my number and a contact came up that read, Fletcher Marin Do not call! And my heart squeezed in my chest. I glanced at Aiden and hit edit. I changed the part after my name to Please call me. I’m so sorry! and handed the phone back.

The smile that lit up Aiden’s face was magical when he looked at it. We stared at each other for a long moment. Then Aiden said, “Great.”

“Mr. Thompson, I think one of your kids just left,” Lucy said, pointing in the direction of the exit.

“Oh fuck,” Aiden cursed. He clamped a hand over his mouth, staring wide-eyed at us, then waved and headed off toward the other room.

“How cool was that?” Lucy said. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Thanks. You’re a good matchmaker.”

“I know, right?” she said, waltzing off toward another display while I stared wistfully in the direction Aiden had gone.

Chapter Nine

Offside

I waited impatiently for Aiden to contact me. I almost called him, but what right did I have when I’d broken things off?

My phone finally rang with his name three days later while Lucy was hanging out with a friend, and I was just closing my laptop for the evening after submitting an editing job.

I almost dropped my phone, I was so excited. I hit the green circle.

“Aiden, hi!”

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